Does anyone know of any distance or low-residency PHD programs in theology or philosophy from schools in mainland Europe, such as Belgium, Germany, etc.?

Thanks!

European doctorates should normally be by dissertation only.

Theo the Educated Derelict
BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984
MBA, Entrepreneurship, City University of Seattle, 1992
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This school has a good reputation within the international evangelical theological community. However, for non-Europeans, it ends up being rather more expensive than some alternatives (namely those from the global south).

In addition, I'm fairly certain that International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague (www.ibts.cz) will permit students to engage in limited residency research throught their University of Wales-validated PhD.

I know that several of the Dutch university faculties of theology will permit you to engage in doctoral research in a largely non-residential capacity. However, I can't name which ones off the top of my head.

Thanks for some of the leads. I found one Dutch university that somewhat hints at possibly doing a low-res program. The University of Leiden's website says:
"PhD candidates from outside the European Union must realise that a work permit is always required for the doctoral programme unless, of course, they conduct their research and do their writing as part of or in addition to another job or in their own time and in their own country."

Thanks for some of the leads. I found one Dutch university that somewhat hints at possibly doing a low-res program. The University of Leiden's website says:
"PhD candidates from outside the European Union must realise that a work permit is always required for the doctoral programme unless, of course, they conduct their research and do their writing as part of or in addition to another job or in their own time and in their own country."

Hi PM - Based upon my reading of the archives I don't think you're going to find anyone who has actually gone this route. Conventional wisdom suggests that you should now be looking at specific instructors, matching them up with your own potential research interests and then contacting them personally before venturing an application for admission. I'm in another subject area but I have a similar focus. If you decide to make the overture I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know how you make out.

While it's not a PhD, you might want to consider Middlesex University's "MProf/DProf in Professional Studies" which is a part-time low-residency work-based learning program and thus customizable to your professional activities.http://www.mdx.ac.uk/study/wbl/courses/maprofstudie.asp

Hi PM - Based upon my reading of the archives I don't think you're going to find anyone who has actually gone this route. Conventional wisdom suggests that you should now be looking at specific instructors, matching them up with your own potential research interests and then contacting them personally before venturing an application for admission.

I don't I recall anyone coming back with success stories from tuition-free European universities either. Kizmet's right, if you want to go this way, find a professor who's interested in your research area. You're going to have to do it eventually anyway and you may as well start there, since that relationship will make or break you.

-=Steve=-

BS, Info Sys concentration, Charter Oak State College
MA in Educational Tech, George Washington University
PhD in Leadership, U. of the Cumberlands (in progress)
More at http://stevefoerster.com

While it's not a PhD, you might want to consider Middlesex University's "MProf/DProf in Professional Studies" which is a part-time low-residency work-based learning program and thus customizable to your professional activities.http://www.mdx.ac.uk/study/wbl/courses/maprofstudie.asp

Quite interesting, Russell! The MProf looks like it could be very interesting to those want to refine what they are doing in the workplace. If you have it handy, what is the projected cost of pursuing the MProf and/or DProf?

Most Dutch universities (non engineering or hard sciences departments) would allow the right candidate to conduct PhD research leading to a doctorate . That one you mentioned, leiden, is one of the oldest in Europe and it is considered to be a very prestigious university in social science fields (history , law, etc). The costs? I think it would be either free or a very low fee plus airplane costs (couple of hundred bucks from NY) etc... A good deal.

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No, I haven't, but my mother in law did it. She is in the social work -health sciences field so she was able to work out a thesis proposal and approach a professor who agreed to supervise her work. She had to attend some one to one meetings through the years but most of the communication was conducted by email. Once or twice a year they met. I am not sure how much she paid but probably nothing. If you have a good proposal, approach a professor of any Dutch university with a summary of your qualifications and your CV etc (whatver you may think it could support your ideas) and explain a little your plans. If accepted, you will be able to do all your research in English as everyone here speaks English. Don't give up, insist on many universities as people here in general like working with Americans, and the final decision depends on professors themselves. Sooner or later one will agree to work with you.